Tasting Notes:
Last year when we offered this wine for the first time we were delighted to sell out in about three days. We had wondered how many people had ever heard of this varietal and if so how many would want to buy it. Fortunately, many people were curious. The grapes come from Larkmead Vineyards, owned by our friends, Kate and Cam Baker, from seventy year old vines. It is pale straw in color with a light fruity aroma and a crisp feel in the mouth, accompanied by delicate, melon-like flavors and no residual sugar. This is less a collectors' wine than a great out-of-doors picnic wine, and Mike Chelini claims it is even fresher and cleaner than the 2000 vintage. From the northeastern Italian region of Friuli, Tocai Friulano represents a varietal not everyone has had a chance to sample. We like it with spicy Italian scampi and Vietnamese cuisine.